Shoe last



Au .21-, 1934. -.1,971,1os

SHOE LAST Filed Aug. 5, I 1931 Vflhakn RH. Harow IINVENTOR.

" iLmP g n I Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOELAST Wilhelm F. K. Karow, Jackson, Miss.

Application August 5, 1931, Serial No. 555,189

2 Claims. (01. 12-133) This invention relates to shoe lasts and shoemanufacturing.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is perfectly form fit- 5 ting to the human foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterproviding for a shoe sole structure conforming to the exact contour ofthe sole of the human foot.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this characteradapted to mold a shoe structure which by its natural embodiment is anarch support.

. Still another further object of the invention is to provide a deviceof this character which is a form for a perfect shoe heel structure.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thischaracter adapted to mold a shoe forming a perfect fit to the human.foot, and

thereby preventing a misfitting of shoes to the foo Still other objectsof the invention will be disclosed upon reading'the specifications inconnection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing.

Figure 1 is a side view of the device modeled for the right foot.

Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof.

Figure 3 is a front cross sectional view thereof so taken on the line3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear view thereof.

Following the drawing, in detail the last 1 is of ordinary structurehaving a base or sole 2. The last shown is for the right foot, and hasthe outer contour line of the sole 2 shaped in a straight line 3 fromthe side of the heel 5 to the point 5a which is at the predeterminedposition of the little toe of the foot and past'the outer terminus ofthe usual break line, thus following the exact 0 line of the foot to thelittle toe, the sole 1 then inclines inward to a natural point shown inFigure 2.

The Figure 2 in the drawing shows the inner contour line of the sole 2of the last 1 extending 4 ins normal manner from the toe in a rearwarddirection to the point 841 which indicates the inner terminus of theusual break line of a foot and then extending inwardly approximatelyalong said break line fora distance substantially Wt; the median line ofsaid last 1'. In the drawing,

surface when the foot is flat thereon. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that in the adaptation of my invention to an abnormal foot, thewidth of the sole 2 at 2a may vary somewhat and may be more thanone-third and less than one-half the 50 width of the last. From thispoint 2a the inner contour line extends rearwardlyin a gradual outwardcurve to the inner terminus of the breast line of the last. From thebreast line rearwardly to the heel end of the last, the inner contourline is extended in a normal manner. The inner side X of the last 1 iscut away to 4, following the natural contour of the human instep to ajuncture with the inner edge of the soleof the last. 1

The last 1 follows rearwardly a practically straight line to either sideof the heel at 5 and 6, sloping slightly inwardly and then following astraight line up from 6 to 7, to the top 9 of the last and having adecided curve inwardly at 8 from the side 5 to the top of the last 9,thus following the exact contour of the human heel.

It is thus to be seen that the last which I have invented is modeled onthe exact contour of the human foot; and, that the sole of a shoemodeled on this last will follow the exact contour of the 90 surfaceengaging portion of a human foot. It will also be apparent that theportion of the upper of such a shoe which is attached to the inner sideof the narrow shank of the sole will snugly embrace the instep andpositively support the same, yet allowing freedom of action. It is thusapparent that the use of built in inflexible arch supports, orinflexible arch supports of any kind.is unnecessary in a shoeconstructed on my last, as the upper itself provides a flexible supportfor the arched instep. A shoe constructed on-this last also follows theexact contour of the heel of the foot, and acts as a brace in supportfor the foot within the shoe. Thus, it is apparent that in fitting ashoe built on this last, to the foot, a perfeet flt must necessarily beaccomplished, otherwise the break line of the shoe will not be correctlyplaced with respect to the foot and the shoe will not be wearable.

It is to be of course understood that while I have l 1 shown anddescribed one form of my invention, various alterations and changes maybe made init without departing from the spirit thereof,

7 and that I do not wish to be restricted to the predefined by a usualbreak line, and an intermediate shank portion, the outer contour line ofsaid heel,

shank, and the rear part of said ball portion being in a substantiallystraight line, and the inner contour line 01' said shank extendinginwardly approximately along said break line for a substantial distancepast the median line of the last and then being gradually curvedoutwardly to the breast line.

WILHELM F. K. KAROW.

